Ornamental Plant Sector In Turkey 2011

ORNAMENTAL PLANTS INDUSTRY IN TURKEY

1. PRODUCTION

Turkey is a country that is optimally situated for ornamental plant production. It has many advantages for a prospering horticultural sector, like having a favorable climate for production of cut flowers, geographical proximity to the main markets, production in modern greenhouses and cheap and skilled labor.

Recent figures estimate ornamental plant production area in Turkey to be about 3,359 ha. 2,199 ha of this area is in open fields, 1,101 ha is in plastic greenhouses and 58 ha is under glass. On 59 % of this total production area, outdoor plants are produced. The share of cut flowers is 36 %, indoor plants 3 % and flower bulbs is 2 %. Production takes place with state of the art technology. The most important variety grown is carnations, with 63 %, followed by roses (15 %).

Table: Production Areas Of Ornamental Plants In Turkey (ha)

2008-2009

Product Groups

Glass

Greenhouse

Plastic Greenhouse

Open Field

Total

%

Outdoor Ornamental Plants

6

98

1.863

1.968

59

Cut Flowers

47

890

274

1.212

36

Indoor Ornamental Plants

5

102

5

113

3

Natural Flower Bulbs

0

9

55

64

2

Total

58

1.101

2.199

3.359

100

Source: Provincial Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Cut flowers are produced in different provinces in Turkey; like İzmir, Antalya, Yalova and Isparta. High quality flowers for export are mainly produced in Antalya region, where excellent environmental conditions for flower production prevail.

2. DOMESTIC MARKET

The cut flower industry in Turkey is mainly based on small family farms. The industry has mainly grown through the increase of the number of small growers. Land, labor and other inputs are relatively cheaper in Turkey than in other countries.

In Turkey, there are two cooperatives for the marketing of cut flowers in the domestic market. They are S.S. Flora Flower Production and Marketing Cooperative and S.S. Çiçek Production and Marketing Cooperative. Both cooperatives are mainly located in İstanbul and have branch offices in different cities in İzmir, Antalya and etc. Producers are members of the cooperatives and market their products through them.

The estimated value of per capita consumption for cut flowers in Turkey is 1 Euro. Cut flower industry in Turkey has an important role by supplying high added value and employment. In Turkey, approximately 25,000 people are directly employed in cut-flower export. Including domestic market, more than 300.000 people are indirectly employed in the industry.

Cut flower industry is playing an important role in providing more cohesion to the social structure in the country, through employment of unskilled workers, and by providing them with accomodation and education opportunities.

3. EXPORT

Flower exports from Turkey began 20 years ago, and the sector has grown steadily since then. Ornamental plant exports increased from $ 17 million in 1996 to $ 56 million in 2010.

Figure: Ornamental PLant Export of Turkey

Table: Ornamental Plant Export Of Turkey

Years

Value (1.000 USD)

2001

14.282

2002

22.299

2003

31.485

2004

37.748

2005

36.230

2006

40.522

2007

46.446

2008

45.524

2009

48.596

2010

56.189

Source: Foreign Trade Ministry of Turkey, 2010

Turkish exporters are taking good advantage of the geographical location of Turkey and of the proximity to the large consumption markets in Europe and elsewhere. Turkish flowers are exported to nearly 57 countries. The most important export markets are the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Russia and Turkmenistan.

Table: Ornamental Plant Export Of Turkey (2010)

Country

Value ( 1.000 USD)

United Kingdom

9.929

Netherlands

8.837

Germany

7.197

Turkmenıstan

5.980

Russian Fed.

3.761

Azerbaijan

3.495

Iraq

3.404

Romania

3.383

Ukraine

3.247

T.R.N.C.

1.129

Total

56.189

Source: Foreign Trade Ministry of Turkey

Cut flowers account for 50 % of our total exports. Carnation and gerbera are the most important varieties of exported cut flowers from Turkey, accounting for 90 % of the present export value. Gypsophilla, solidago, lilium, lisianthus, ranunculus, greens and other flowers make up the remaining 10 %.

Table: Ornamental Plant Export Of Turkey

2010

Value (1.000 USD)

Share (%)

Flower Bulbs

1.813

3

Live Plants

21.774

39

Cut Flowers

26.664

48

Wreath, Mosses

5.938

10

Total

56.189

100

Source: Foreign Trade Ministry of Turkey, 2010

In recent years, floriculture developments have also taken place in the highlands in Isparta, which is situated about 120 km north of Antalya: here high quality flowers for export are produced. The production in the highland area allows to export flowers year round to the markets.

Turkey has logistical advantages in the sector. Air and road transport is commonly used in exports. Road transport is cheap and it takes a short time to main destinations in Europe like the Netherlands, UK and Germany.

4. IMPORT

Import of ornamental plants is $49 million in 2010. 90 % of imported ornamental plants is outdoor and indoor plants. Most important countries in import are Italy, Holland and Germany.